Problems with surrogacy (letter)

by Arnold Jago

News Weekly, April 28, 2007

Sir,

In the current controversy over surrogacy laws, let's remember that all surrogacy is unjust. Surrogacy dumps a child, without his/her consent, into complex, unnatural relationships - and he/she is expected to like it.

Who knows what confusion and resentments may result? Do we care? And many birth mothers feel unable to relinquish the baby.

A woman isn't just a uterus on legs. Women sometimes change their minds. Why not on such a life-changingly personal issue?

Remember the Mary-Beth Whitehead case. The child she bore was confiscated by police. During subsequent “access” times the baby sought Mary-Beth's breast, for both nutrition and comfort.

The court-appointed supervisor wouldn't let Mary-Beth nurse the child, “lest it create a mother-child bond”! Too late and very stupid.